Folding packing-case.



PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904.

0. GLAWSON.

FOLDING PACKING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1904.

no MODEL.

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Witnmou:

No. 777,601. PATENT-D DEC. 13, 1904.

' 0. 'GLAWSOEL.

FOLDING PACKING CASE.

APPLIOATIOKI'ILED APR. 9, 1904. N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I guwufoz. "i A? Orr-ezz Ciawo'am Witnapaeol UNITED STATES Patented December 13, 21904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ORREN CLAWSON, OF ROCK-VALE, MONTANA.

FOLDING PACKING-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 777,601, dated December 13, 1904.

Application filed April 9, 1904. Serial No. 202,417. (No model.) I

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ORREN CLAwsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockvale, in the county of Carbon and State of Montana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Packing-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of packing-cases in which the several parts may be set up and detachably secured together, so that after the contents have been removed the sides, ends, and top may be unfastened and folded together as a knockdown box or crate and returned to the shipper to be reused.

It is the object of the invention to provide a folding packing case or crate which shall be strong and durable and which may be readily set up and easily knocked down or folded to be returned and can be manufactured at a small cost.

The invention consists of a folding packingcase having the structural characteristics and capabilities herein set forth.

In the drawings hereto annexed and forming a part of this specification like figures of reference designate corresponding parts or features, as the case may be, in all of the views.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the case complete with the cover removed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same, the cover being shown as in place. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view looking toward the inside of the end. Fig. 4 is an outside view of one side of the case complete. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the opposite side of the box. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View of the box in folded position.

In the drawings, 1 designates the bottom of one form of a packing folding case in which my improvements may be embodied. To each end of the bottom there is permanently secured, by means of nails or otherwise, a strip 2, and to the sides are permanently secured in like manner strips 3, the said strips being for a purpose'to be presently explained.

4 designates the ends, to the outer surface of which strengthening-slats 5 may be nailed, and like slats 6 and 7 may be in like manner secured to the sides 8.

9 designates hinges one leaf of which is secured to the inner face of the permanent end strips 2 and the other leaf is secured to the inner face of the ends proper, 4, so that the ends may be folded in upon the bottom, and 10 designates hinges one leaf of which is secured to the inner face of the permanent side strips 3 and the other end to the inner face of the sides proper, so that the sides may be folded inward one upon the other. By making the side strips 3 higher than the end strips 2 the ends may first be folded in and then folding the sides they will lie flat on the foldedin ends.

The slats 7 on the outer face of the sides may be so formed and secured as that they will constitute bracing-strips for the ends when they are raised into position, and when so raised hooks l1, pivoted on the inner faces of the ends, may be caught-over the sides and shut down in notches 12 of the same, and so hold the ends up in permanent place.

Hooked pins 13, formed on the ends of metallic strips 14, secured to the under side of the lid, may be arranged to be caught in eyes 15, made in the upper end of strips 14, secured to one side of the box at its upper edge, and so detachably hinge one edge of the lid or top to the top of the box, and then by pivoting one end of the hooks 15 to the opposite edge of the box they may be made to catch in staples 16 in the opposite side of the box, and thus hold the whole structure in place.

Pairs of cleats 17 may be secured to the inner faces of the sides which may receive the edges of the dividing slide or partition 18, so as to divide the box in two parts when desired.

A folding or knockdown case or box made in accordance with my invention may be employed for shipping eggs or other similar products, cakes or crackers or other bakers products, or for fruits, or any other articles desired. By also using the same principles, but varying the construction slightly, the device can be made into a slatted crate for marketing or shipping poultry of all kinds.

It is to be noted that the box is made of the fewest possible parts in view of the functions required of it. The strengthening-strips secured to the sides, top, and bottom are also important and adding to the strength without increasing the weight or cumbersomeness of the box. It is very useful as a means for carrying articles to market and exposing them for sale and returning it in compact form. Care has been had in the construction of the box to not only make it most convenient with regard to experience, but to make it strong in such parts as require strength in order to enhance its endurance. For instance, the end pieces or strips 2 2 and side strips 3 3 are made of quite thick strong material as compared with other parts of the box.

The dividing-slide may of course be dispensed with and other changes made in the form and arrangement of the case or box without departing from the nature or spirit of invention.

What I declare as new and as of my invention is A folding case having relatively thick end and side sills or pieces, permanent ends and sides, hinged at their lower inner edges or margins to said sills, upon which sills the ends may rest when raised, the said end pieces having transverse or longitudinal strengtheningstrips secured to their upper and lower margins, and the sides having strengthening-strips secured to their outer sides and a strip secured to each end on its inner side and outside of the hinged ends, whereby when the hinged ends are in raised position they may rest against the last-mentioned strips, a removable top or lid provided on its upper surface and ends with strengthening-strips, metallic strips secured to the under side of the lid, and having their outer ends formed into short pins projecting beyond the edge of the lid, strips on the side of the box provided with eyes to engage the said pins, combined with pairs of cleats secured to the inner faces of the sides, and a slide-piece adapted to be moved into place between the said cleats to divide the box into parts.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ORREN CLAWVSON.

Witnesses:

W. A. SUTTON, A. CLAwsoN. 

